Town in raid on speedy winger
Exciting West Bromwich Albion youngster Chris Humphrey today breezed into Gay Meadow as Shrewsbury Town pulled off a post-transfer window coup. The 18-year-old pacy right winger has signed a deal with the League Two club for the remainder of the campaign.
Humphrey, who has come through the Black Country outfit's youth system over the previous nine seasons, caught the eye of manager Gary Peters during Shrewsbury's 3-1 reserve team victory over Albion at the Hawthorns on Monday.
The Town chief quickly learned the teenager was not under contract - making him available for a transfer despite the closing of the window at the end of August - and moved swiftly to tie up the deal.
The quickfire move represents a major shift in normal policy by meticulous planner Peters who rarely considers signing a player on the evidence of one performance.
But the Shrewsbury boss insists his surprise raid on the transfer market is not a gamble - and hasn't ruled out including the youngster in the squad for Saturday's visit of Lincoln.
"Chris is lightening quick, runs at people and he has got his chance," said Peters.
"He caused us major problems on Monday and speaking to contacts like Bobby Hope, Michael Appleton and Craig Shakespeare (members of Albion's staff) I found out he was out of contract and he had been causing major problems to every team he had played against this season.
"All our lads were talking about in the dressing room at half-time was how to stop the right winger so they know what he's capable of and we were very keen to sign him.
"I waited outside the dressing room for Chris after the game, kidnapped him and Albion have been looking for him since!
"It was a case of being in the right place at the right time with the right contacts.
"I was a bit like a woman in a handbag shop and it was a signing made on impulse.
"Usually I prefer to watch players three or four times before I make a decision but if I had done that someone else would have signed him because I know for a fact Hereford, Stockport and Cheltenham were keen.
"But he's come in on a deal similar to Marco Adaggio, Steve Leslie and Gavin Cadwallader as a potential player so it's not a gamble."
By JAMES GARRISON
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